Army sweeps Air Force with 2-1 victory

Jan. 19, 2003

For the first time in the 27-year history of the series, Army swept Air Force at the Cadet Ice Arena. Army completed the sweep with a 2-1 victory on Sunday, Jan. 19. The score was identical to Saturday's Black Knight victory.

Army improved to 8-11-0 overall while Air Force fell to 8-15-1.

The game was a near carbon copy of the first game as Army took the early lead. Air Force tied the game early in the third period and Army netted the game-winner shortly after the Falcons tied the score.

For the second straight night, Air Force out-shot the visitors from West Point, but not by as great a margin. The Falcons also had more power plays and, for the second time in as many nights, each team scored a power play goal but the game-winner was even strength.

Late in the first period, it looked as if Air Force would take the early lead, but a goal by Scott Zwiers was disallowed. With the Falcons on a 5-on-3 power play, Zwiers scored from just outside the crease, but the post on the far side was dislodged. Ryan Wiggins was skating in from the right circle with an Army defenseman on his back. The two nudged the net just before Zwiers slid the puck across the goal line.

Army took advantage of its third power play of the first period as Chris Casey scored from Nic Serre and Chad Mayfield. Serre shot was saved, but Casey was wide open on the far post for his 10th of the season.

Just under three minutes into the second period, Zwiers netted his ninth of the season on the power play from Brian Reaney and Wiggins. Wiggins' initial shot was saved, but Zwiers cleaned up the rebound to tie the game at the 2:49 mark. Four minutes later, Army's Chris Garceau scored the game-winner, unassisted. Air Force turned the puck over in its defensive zone and Garceau had the puck in the faceoff circle. His shot to the low far post slid past Mike Polidor.

Air Force out-shot Army, 11-2, in the final period but got get one past Army freshman goalie Brad Roberts. Air Force had a 31-21 shot advantage in the game and out-shot the Black Knights 75-49 in the series. Roberts made 30 saves in the game and 73 in the series. Polidor made 19 saves in Sunday's game and 45 in the series. Air Force was 1-for-5 on the power play while Army was 1-for-3.

"We need to score more than one or two goals to have a chance to win," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We are struggling right now and our confidence is down. Give Army their due, they came in here with a game plan, they got the lead and they stuck to their plan. There was no easy ice out there for us this weekend."

Air Force returns to College Hockey America play next week as the Falcons travel to northern Minnesota for a two-game series with Bemidji State, Jan. 24-25.

--30-

Next Event

Footer